Bird flu threat grows: More dangerous than Covid-19
Virologist Robert Redfield, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told a TV channel that a bird flu pandemic is "very likely." Redfield stated that bird flu in humans is largely fatal and that a potential pandemic would have a much higher mortality rate than COVID-19.
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It is believed that four major flu pandemics that have struck humanity in the last century, including the Spanish flu in 1918 and the swine flu in 2009, began with a bird flu virus.
While many influenza viruses affect wild bird populations worldwide, most do not pose a serious risk to humans; however, major problems can arise when a bird flu strain undergoes a new mutation or jumps to another host species.
CLAIMS THAT A NEW PANDEMIC IS IMMINENT
Recently, fears of another pandemic have increased due to the unprecedented speed at which H5N1 influenza is spreading among wild and domestic birds and many different mammal species.
Former U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director and virologist Robert Redfield issued warnings in a statement on June 14 to the TV channel NewsNation.
In his statement, Redfield said, "I think it's very likely that we will have a bird flu pandemic one day, it's more a matter of when we will have a bird flu pandemic."
Redfield added that there has been a steady increase in the number of infected mammals in the U.S. since 2019, and with the latest additions, the total number has reached 27 different species.
‘IT WILL AFFECT HUMANS MORE’
Redfield continued, "As H5N1 infects more and more different mammals, it changes its receptor usage, learning how to use different receptors for dolphins, seals, bears, polar bears, foxes, raccoons, and cats. So, the virus is undergoing many mutations, and as it learns these new receptors, it will affect humans more."
Outbreaks in cattle on farms in various U.S. states have shown that the virus has spread to farm cats and three humans. Although virus particles have also been detected in beef and milk, experts have emphasized that the food supply is safe and the risk to the general public is low.
Recently, a human H5N2 infection in Mexico highlighted the risk that any of these viruses could pose to mammals. Experts are focused on H5N1 because it has spread to even the most remote corners of the world.
NO HUMAN-TO-HUMAN OUTBREAK YET
Currently, there is no evidence that the virus has developed the ability to spread from human to human. The small number of human infections seen so far have been isolated incidents in people who were in very close contact with infected animals. However, this has not stopped some countries from taking precautions already.
Following the European Union's large order for an H5N8-based vaccine, Finland appears ready to become the first country to begin vaccinating people at risk, and other countries are preparing to take similar steps.